Just Released: The Torah Vodaas Haggadah – A Project of Tsemach Glenn

The Megillos have been packed away for next year, while the mishloach manos and other chometz are quickly being consumed. Brooms and mops are being wielded along with other reinforcements, and the fumes of Easy-Off and Windex waft through the air. Purim quickly becomes a distant memory as families turn their attention to the approaching Yom Tov of Pesach. Various Haggados and Pesach-related seforim, both new and old, are being prominently displayed in Judaic bookstores, as the focus on the meaning and depth of Pesach begins to be explored anew.

The TorahVodaasHaggadah is taking its place of prominence at the forefront of the retail displays. The product of months of preparation, this unique sefer is a compilation of the divrei Torah of seven prominent roshei yeshiva who, collectively, led Yeshiva Torah Vodaas for nearly a century. A perfect complement to the Seder, this work includes, in addition to the roshei yeshiva‘s divrei Torah, the Pesachminhagim of these legendary figures, as well as biographical sketches of their lives. Beautifully laid out in a most aesthetically pleasing way, the Haggadah is a delight for the eyes as it is for the mind and heart.

This project was the brainchild of Tsemach Glenn, a devoted talmid of Yeshiva Torah Vodaas. While still in the yeshiva, he developed a close relationship with Rav Simcha Sheps, Rav Avrohom Pam and Rav Elazar Kahanow, and he initially planned to compile the Pesachdivrei Torah of just these three roshei yeshiva. Upon the advice of Rabbi Binyomin Zev Karman, a colleague from his days as a talmid in Torah Vodaas, Tsemach decided to also include in the Haggadah the works of Rav Reuvain Fein and Rav Gedaliah Schorr. As the project progressed, Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky’s and Rav Shlomo Heiman’s chiddushim wereaddedas well.

(The roshei yeshiva of Torah Vodaas who were omitted from this volume were nevertheless not neglected. Time constraints and difficulty gathering and translating their chiddushim dictated that they instead beincludedin a second volume, one that is already scheduled for release in time for Pesach 5772. That volume will include chiddushim from Rav Reuvain Grozovsky, Rav Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz, Rav Shmuel Kushelevitz and Rav Aharon Yeshaya Shapiro, amongst others.)

Given the amount of divrei Torah available from these roshei yeshiva alone, it was necessary to peruse many, many of their works and the writings of their talmidim in order to narrow down and select the pieces that would be most appropriate for this Haggadah. The writers hired for this project strove to have the sefer bring out the greatness of the miracle of Yetzias Mitzrayim, impart emunah, and foster a feeling of ahavas haTorah.

The beauty of this Haggadah is that it encompasses the length and breadth of Torah Vodaas history. Rav Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz sought to infuse his talmidim with a broad array of Torah views and personalities. The authors managed to capture the essence of each one of these roshei yeshiva: the measured logic of Rav Shlomo Heiman; the Chassidic insights of Rav Gedaliah Schorr; the truthful and novel elucidation of Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky; the mussar of Shanghai and the “Mir element” of Rav Reuvain Fein; the fiery passion of Rav Simcha Sheps; the eloquence and aidelkeit of Rav Avrohom Pam; and the halachic brilliance of Rav Elazar Kahanow. There is no doubt that this Haggadah has something for every reader.

From Kadeish through Nirtzah, readers of the Torah Vodaas Haggadah will be able to envisage these masters of Torah and mussar imparting to them the emunah and ahavas haTorah that they possessed. Indeed, a Torah Vodaas talmid learning from this Haggadah will be transported back to the shiurim of his great rabbeim. Others, no doubt, will be drawn to these gedolim of yesteryear, and will feel an immediate connection with them. Either way, the Torah Vodaas Haggadah will surely give one a Pesach experience to be long remembered.

11 COMMENTS

a second volume, one that is already scheduled for release in time for Pesach 5772. That volume will include chiddushim from Rav Reuvain Grozovsky, Rav Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz, Rav Shmuel Kushelevitz and Rav Aharon Yeshaya Shapiro, amongst others.)

I hope the “others” is a reference to Rav Elya Chazan, Rav EM Shisgal and MANY others…

Rav Elya Chazan zt”l was supposedly deemed the “Sar HaTorah of Nashim and Nezikin” by Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l. However, it is highly doubtful that he left over any writings of Drush or Machshava. He did write a little on Masechta Pesachim, but it is high level Pilpul, and probably not appropriate for an English translation.

Rav Eliyahi Moshe Shisgal zt”l, a son in law of Rav Moshe Fienstein zt”l, is being worked on. Does anyone know if there are any Kesavim? The writers would love to include them.

As far as Rav Dovid Lebowitz, he was the third Rosh Yeshiva of YTV. The first was Rav Moshe Rosen zt”l, known as the Nezer HaKodesh. There are several pieces of Drush in his seforim, and the writers are working on them for volume two. If anyone has information as to the existence of other pieces, please contact them. By the way, Rav Yaakov Kantrowitz zt”l (an uncle of Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l) was the second Rosh Yeshiva, until he was injured in a automobile accident and had to cut back on his activities. There are some of his Divrei Torah on Pesach, and the writers are looking for a copy of Hegyonos HaGr”i, his sefer of Drush. It would be a big zchus to include these Gedolim in the second volume.

As far as Rav Dovid Lebowitz zt”l, the writers have received several pieces connected to Pesach, and would very much like to include them, and any other pieces available, in volume two.

Other Gedolim they would like to include are Rav Moshe Rivkin zt”l, Rav Dovid Bender zt”l, Rav Avrohom Pincus zt”l, and Rav Nesanel Quinn zt”l.

Please do not construe this list as exclusive. The idea behind this sefer is to spread Torah; it is not political in any sense.

Whatever Tsemach Glenn does attains perfection. This Haggadah is a major contribution to the Pesach literature and will assuredly be a super success. The second volume will be sold out BEFORE it hits the seforim stores. You can bet on it. As with all projects of Tsemach, we will see a Picture of Perfection, literally Picture Perfect !!!!!!

Rabbi Karmen did a great job. I wonder why they didn’t put his name on the cover. The words of the Haggadah are written in an inspiring yet entertaining way so as to make the reader turn page after page. Any Dvar torah in this Haggadah can be used as a springboard to discuss Hashkafah with your family. Rabbi Karmen is sure to be a rising start in the writing field.